Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, has called for stronger institutional safeguards, stricter accountability and greater use of technology to protect the credibility of the country’s higher education system.
She made the call on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, during a special edition of the Civic Town Hall at the Miatta Civic Centre in Freetown.
The programme, hosted by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, examined the theme: “How Do We Address the Threats to Quality Education in Sierra Leone?” Discussions focused on examination malpractice, fake academic qualifications, institutional responsibility and technology’s role in improving transparency.
Addressing participants as keynote speaker, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie said higher education institutions must strengthen their internal systems to prevent misconduct and preserve public confidence in their certificates and graduates.
Drawing on her experience as a university lecturer, Head of Department and Dean, she said she understood many of the challenges facing tertiary institutions. Although universities and colleges have policies and penalties to address academic misconduct, she argued that such measures would achieve little without consistent implementation.
The Minister identified examination malpractice as one of the most serious threats to education, warning that it must never be accepted as a normal part of academic life.
She explained that students in universities and colleges are being prepared for future responsibilities as professionals, public servants and national leaders. Allowing dishonesty to flourish during their education, she warned, could encourage similar behaviour in workplaces and positions of authority.
The Minister recalled maintaining a zero-tolerance position on examination malpractice throughout her teaching career and urged institutions to apply equally firm standards. Beyond punishment, she said authorities must work to change students’ attitudes by helping them understand the lasting personal and professional consequences of academic fraud.
Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie also proposed the wider adoption of digital examination systems to reduce opportunities for cheating and minimize unnecessary human interference.
She disclosed that multifunctional information and communications technology facilities were being considered and piloted to allow students to sit examinations electronically. Under the proposed approach, randomized question banks could generate different sets of questions for candidates, making collaboration and other forms of malpractice more difficult.
Artificial Intelligence could also support the marking of multiple-choice and short-answer questions, she said. Lecturers and heads of departments would, however, retain responsibility for reviewing results and conducting quality-assurance checks.
According to the Minister, properly managed technology could improve efficiency, transparency and accountability across the examination process. She stressed that digital systems should strengthen not replace academic supervision and institutional responsibility.
Turning to fraudulent academic credentials, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie called for more rigorous verification of degrees and certificates. She said the relevant authorities must ensure that qualifications presented for employment, promotion or public responsibility are genuine.
She warned that individuals who obtain or use fake credentials must understand that academic fraud will not be tolerated. Effective verification, she added, would protect reputable institutions while ensuring that those entering professional and leadership positions possess legitimate qualifications.
The Minister maintained that preserving educational quality is a shared national responsibility involving the Government, higher education institutions, lecturers, students, families and regulatory bodies.
She concluded that Sierra Leone could not afford to weaken academic standards when graduates are expected to manage institutions, deliver essential services and provide national leadership.
The Minister therefore urged sustained action to combat examination malpractice, strengthen the authentication of academic credentials and introduce secure digital solutions capable of building a more credible, transparent and accountable higher education system.
